Tensioning mechanism.



.T. P. WEIS.

TENSIONING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION 211,31) MAY 2a, 1013.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914,

Noun: 1 z

THE NORRIS PETERS CO; FHOYOLITHO. WASHINGTON. D C

To all whom it may concern:

u TED s'rnrns PATENT OFFICE.

JbHIN' P. WEIS, OF NYACK, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 LUCIUS N. LITTAUER, OF

' GLOVERSVILLE, NEW YORK.

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Specif cation of Iietters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

Original application filed December 27, 1912, Serial No. 738,841. Divided and this application filed May 28, j i i i 1913. Serial No. 770,685.

. Be it known that 1, JOHN P. has, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nyack,

. in the county of Rockland and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tensioning Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sewing machines, and more particularly to thread tensioning means therefor, the objectof the invention being to provide an improved tensioning means for the needle and looper threads.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for lifting the presser-foot by a floor treadle or knee shift, in the opera tion of which a plurality of sets of tensions for both the looper and needle threads are released so that the threads may be drawn through freely without tension, and also means whereby one set of such tensions with its releasing device may be swung out of action as occasion may require.

The present application is a division of my contemporaneously pending application, Serial No. 738,841, filed December 27, 1912.

In the drawings accompanying and forma ing part of this specification, Figure 1 is a view of one form of improved sewing machine head having this improved tensioning means connected therewith, the said view being a rear view of the head; and Fig. 2 is a detail view of the needle thread tension and tension release looking downward in the direction of the; arrow in Fig. 1, the dotted line indicating generally how the. tension plate may be swung out of its working position to permit access to the interior of the hollow arm.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawings.

This improved machine comprises a suitable head consisting of a base plate 1 pro vided with feet 2 and an overhanging arm 3, the main driving shaft 50 being carried by the base. This machine is provided with some suitable form of looper mechanism, such for instance as that shown in my contemporaneously pending application hereinbefore referred to, and suitable needle mechanism, preferably similar to that shown in the said application, and therefore a detailed description thereof is not deemed necessary herein. The needle threads 106 are guided by aneyelet 123 attached to the top of the needle bar andpass through a leader 125 carried by the overhanging arm, and which acts as a take-upafter the needle loops slips from the loopers. Tensions 121' for the needle threads are secured to a swing plate 128, (see Fig. 2), pivotally secured to the top of the arm by means of a shoulder screw 129 having a friction washer inside the head which holds the plate in position. A tension release 130 is pivotally secured to the swing plate 128 by means of a stud and nut 131, so that the release may have axial movement thereon. This release is provided with a plurality of arms 132, shown as of cross form, each having a notch 133 one of which engages a pin 184 carried by an arm 135 of a lever 136, (see Fig. 1), which is pivotally secured to the back of the arm by a shoulder screw 137. The other arm 138 of this twoarnied lever 186 carries a similar pin 139 which coacts with a notch 140 of the tension release 141 pivotally secured to the back of the arm by a stud and nut 142. This last or looper thread release is identical with the one on top, and therefore a detailed description of but one is deemed necessary. The lever 136 terminates in an extension 143 carrying a'forked projection 144 which cooperates with the foot lifting lever 145. The tension release 141 has a plurality of arms or projections 146 which pass in between the disks 147 of the tensions to open the same, and these arms may work in either direction as the case may require. A plurality of thread apertures 148 in these arms 146, lead the looper threads 149 to the tensions secured on the back of the arm, while the tension release on the top of the arm leads the middle threads to the tensions 127.

A rod 151, (see Fig. 1), is connected with a floor treadle, (not shown), and is also coupled to a rod at 152 by a coupling 153, and this rod 152 is pivotally connected as at 156 to the lever 145, which is pivotally secured, as at 157, to the machine arm. The end 158 of this lever 145 carries a hook-shaped wire 159 secured to and extending up from the resser-bar clamp 160, (see Fig. 1).

. This clamp 160 is secured to the pressertension disks 147 and the arms 1.30 to enter between the disks 127 and thus release the needle and looper threads. When the pressure is removed from the floor treadle the spring 163, (see Fig. 1), or the rod 151 will return the mechanism to its initial position, whereby the coupling 153 will contact with the bottom face of the hub 155 and limit the upward movement of the same, movement in the opposite direction being limited by the collar 15 1 on rod 152. Therefore two stops are provided for limiting the movement of the rods 151 and 152, one for the downward movement and onefor the upward movement, both of which are adjustable by changing the position of the coupling or the collar. The usual hand lifter 164: is also provided for the presser-foot.

The looper threads 1 19 pass through a post 165 on the upright arm of the head, which post is provided with thread eyes, and thence down under a wire guide 166, (see Fig. 1), which leads the threads under the swing plate 167. This plate, (see Fig. 1), is provided with a series of cut out portions 168, 169 and 170, so that when the same is in its closed position the thread pull-off finger 171 will operate in the recess portion 168 while the thread nipper 172 will operate in the recess 169 and the thread take-up finger 17 3 will operate in the recess 170. It will thus be seen by an inspection of Fig. 1 that no matter what vibration or throw the thread may have during the rapid running of the machine it will be impossible for it to jump over said manipulators or become out of working position.

Thread eyelet guides 174 and 17 5, are provided to guide the threads from one device to the other. The nipper rocker 176 carries a nipper plate 177. An eccentric is secured to the main shaft 50 for actuating the connection which extends outward and terminates in a bearing 181, which is pivotally connected to a crank 182 by means of a tapered stud 183. This crank is secured to the shaft 18%, thereby giving a rocking motion to the same, and this shaft extends through the hub of the nipper rocker and has its bearing in a block, and on one end of this shaft is the finger 171 while on the other end is the finger 173, so that each of said fingers gets its motion from the eccenric. A nipper cam is secured to the main shaft 50 and coiiperates with forked arms of the nipper rocker 176 to give a rocking motion to the nipper plate 177 for the purpose of clamping the threads while the fingers 171 and 173 are acting thereon.

The shiftable plate 128 hereinbefore referred to, upon which all of the tensions 127 are mounted, provides not only an eflicient means, on the swinging or shifting thereof, for oiling and adjusting the parts inside the machine frame, but also permits all of the tensions to be simultaneously shifted when the plate is shifted and thus carry the tensions out of the way.

Among the advantages for this improved tension means is that it facilitates the handling of the threads and offers particular advantages in releasing the several tensions, although such tensions are remote from one another and from the needle, so that the threads of one group will not become tangled and interfere with the threads of the other groupof tensions. It is highly desirable to locate the tensions at a remote distance from the point of delivery of the thread to the stitch, that is from the needles and loopers, so that a certain amount of elasticity in the threads will be permitted and obtained. This is particularly useful in chain-stitch mechanism, and in the present improvement the tension mechanisms are located a considerable distance from the needle eyes so as to give quite a length of thread, and this is permitted by reason of their location at the rear end of the overhanging arm, and the possibility of one set of threads becoming entangled with the other is avoided by locating one set of tensions on top and the other at the side. The twist in the thread has an elastic effect upon it, and the greater the space between the needle eye and the tension the more elasticity therewill be in that amount of thread, and this is an important factor in overcoming the breakage of thread in rapid sewing, and it also enables the needles to deflect a more uniform loop. If the tensions were all located near the needle head and adjacent to the point where the needle bar operates, the handling of work such as shirts, shirt-waists, etc., with the sleeves and other parts thereof flopping around, would more or less interfere with the threads, whereas by the present improvement this is entirely avoided. While, as hereinbefore stated, it is desirable to locate the tension means at a remote distance from the point of delivery of the thread to be stitched, yet there is necessarily a limitation as to the distance which the tension means can be located away from the stitching mechanism. For instance, it will be observed that in the present case the tension mechanism for the looper thread is so located that not only will the threads thereof not become entangled with the threads of the needle tension means, which would be apt to be the case if they were both located on top of the arm, but it is so located that the thread for the looper mechanism can be led directly to such looper mechanism, whereas if the tension means were on top of the arm it would be too far away from the looper mechanism, so that a considerable drag would be created on the threads owing to the number of eyelets or guides through which the threads would have to pass in deliver the threads underneath the clothplate to thelooper mechanism in the most direct fashion and yet obtain that elasticity hereinbefore referred to. Moreover, by locating thetensions in the manner indicated they are more accessible to the operator and lead the threads more directly from the thread stand or supply to the loopers, while their location is such as not to interfere with the work as it passes over the cloth-plate or under the arm of the machine. In additionto the foregoing advantages, it will be observed that the tensions are located substantially the same distance from the end of the machine and one above the other, and consequently a very direct connection between the two is possible so that they can be simultaneously operated, and that moreover this connection maybe of avery, simple form involving but few parts.

I claim as my invention:

1. In asewing machineihaving an overhanging arm, the combination of looper mechanism and needle mechanism, needle thread tension means and looper thread tension means, a shiftable plate carried by said arm for carryingone of said tension means, whereby said tension means can be shifted out of the way on the shifting of the plate, and tension release means opera tive to simultaneously release the needle and looper tension means, and including an up right rod, both of said tensions being on the same side of said rod.

2. In a sewing machine, the combination of looper mechanism and needle mechanism, tension means for the needle thread and tension means for the looper thread, tension release means for each of said thread tension means, means connecting said tension release means whereby they are operative simultaneously, means under the control of the operator for operating such tension release means and comprislng treadle operated means and including an upright rod, both of said tensions being on the same side of said rod, a presser-foot, and means connecting the same with said last means whereby on the lifting of said presser-foot the tension release means will also be operated, each of said tension release means including a pivotally mounted multiple arm.

3. In a sewing machine, the combination of looper mechanism and needle mechanism, thread tension means for each of said mechanisms and comprising a plurality of springcontrolled disks, tension release means for each of said thread tension means and each comprising an independently pivoted crossformed member effective to separate the disks and thereby release the tension, and means under the control of the operator for actuating such tension release means.

4. In a sewingmachine, the combination of looper mechanism and needle mechanism, thread tension means for each of said mechanisms and comprising a series of pairs of spring-controlled disks, tension release means for each of said thread tension means and comprising a pair of independently pivoted cross-formed members effective to separate each pair of disks and thereby release the tension, means under the control of the operator for actuating such tension release means, and means connecting the needle thread tension release with the looper thread tension release whereby both of them are operative simultaneously.

5. Ina sewing machine, the combination of looper mechanism and needle mechanism, needle thread tension means and looper thread tension means, each comprising a plurality of pairs of separable disks, tension release means for each of said tension means and each comprising an independently pivoted cross-formed member effective to engage and separate each pair of disks, means connecting said cross-formed members, and means for operatingsaid connecting means thereby to simultaneously release the tensions and including an upright rod, both of said tensions being on the same side of said rod. i

6. In a sewingmachine, the combination of looper mechanism and needle mechanism, needle thread tension means and looper thread tension means, each comprising a plurality of pairs of separable disks, tension release means for each of said tension means andeach comprising an independently pivoted member having an arm adapted to engage and separate each pair of disks of its tension means, means connecting said pivoted members, and means for operating said connecting means thereby to simultaneously release the tensions and including an upright rod, both of said tensions being on the same side of said rod.

7. In a sewing machine, the combination of looper mechanism and needle mechanism, needle thread tension means, looper thread tension means, each comprising a plurality of separable disks, tension release means for each set of said disks and each comprising a pivotally mounted cross-shaped member having each arm thereof projecting intermecliatetwo pairs of disks of its tension means and adapted to separate said disks, means connecting said cross-shaped arms, and means for operating said connecting means thereby to simultaneously release the tensions.

8. In a sewing machine having looper and needle mechanism, the combination of tension means comprising a plurality of sepa rable disks, a pivotally supported tension release means comprising a cross-shaped member having each arm thereof projecting between two pairs of disks and efi'ective to engage and release the same, and means for operating said tension release means.-

9. In a sewing machine, the combination of looper mechanism and needle mechanism, needle thread tension means, looper thread tension means, each comprising a plurality of separable disks, tension release means for each of said tensionmeans and each comprising an independently pivoted crossshaped member having each arm thereof projecting intermediate two pairs of disks of its tension means and adapted to separate said disks, and means connecting said members and operative simultaneously to swing the same and thereby release the needle and looper thread tension means. i

10. In a sewing machine, the combination of looper mechanism and needle mechanism, needle thread tension means, looper thread tension means, each comprising separable disks, a pivotally mounted arm for each tension means andeifective to engage its disk to separate the same, a pivotally sup ported two-armed lever connecting said disk-separating arms, and means for operating said two-armed lever.

11. In a sewing machine having an overhanging arm, the combination of looper mechanism and needle mechanism, tension means for the needle thread, tension means for the looper thread, each comprising a series of separable disks, one series located at the side of said overhanging arm and the other on the top thereof, tension release means for each set of disks and comprising a pivotally mounted multiple arm effective to directly engage the disks to separate the same, said multiple arms swinging in planes transverse one to the other, a two-armed lever connecting said multiple arms, and means for operating said two-armed lever thereby to simultaneously operate the multiple arms.

12. In a sewing machine, the combination of looper thread tension means and needle thread tension means carried thereby, each comprising separable disks, two pivotally mounted arms cooperating with said pair-of tension means for releasing the same, a two-armed lever, said arms and lever having one notches and the other pins, and means for operating said lever thereby to operate the arms simultaneously.

13. In a sewingmachine, the combination of looper mechanism and needle mechanism, needle thread tension means and looper thread tension means, each comprising a plurality of tensions, means for simultaneously releasing both of said tension means andcomprising a pair of oscillatory members one cooperating with each set of tensions, a pivotally supported member having parts thereof projecting in opposite directions and cooperating with said oscillatory members, and means for shifting said last member.

14. In a sewing machine, the combination of looper mechanism and needle mechanism, needle thread tension means and looper thread tension means, each comprising a plurality of tensions, means for simultane ously releasing both of said tension means and comprising a'pair of oscillatory memhere one cooperating with each set of tensions, a pivotally supported member having parts thereof projecting in opposite directions and cooperating with said oscillatory members, and a lever for oscillating said last member, said lever being connected adjacent to each end thereof with independent meansfor operating it. i

15. In a sewing machine, the combination of looper mechanism and needle mechanism, needle thread tension means and looper thread tension means, each comprising a plurality of tensions, means for simultaneously releasing both of said tension means and comprising a pair of oscillatory members one cooperating with each set of tensions, a pivotally supported member having parts thereof projecting in opposite direc tions and cooperating with said oscillatory members, and a lever for oscillating said last member, said lever being connected adj acent to each end thereof with independent means for operating it, one of said independent means comprising treadle operated means.

Signed at Nyack, N. Y., this 27th day of May, 1913.

JOHN P. WEIS. Witnesses:

ALBERT H. WEIs, EDWARD L. RUssELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

